The 5 Songs Rich Homie Quan Went In The Furthest On

Five tracks that deliver on Rich Homie Quan's undeniable promise.

Rich Homie Quan told us on his first mixtape, in 2012, I Go In On Every Song. Next came Still Goin' In and Still Goin' In (Reloaded). Then, after releasing a joint tape with Gucci, Quan made his message clearer than ever with I Promise I Will Never Stop Going In. That was Rich Homie's last solo tape; he then aligned himself with the inimitable Young Thug, becoming one of the most memorable duos in recent history. Suddenly, in late February, Quan parted ways with Rich Gang, though his name continues to be intertwined with the controversy the Barter 6 rapper creates on a daily basis.

Now, we can assure you solo Quan is back--and back for his own sake--he has a story he needs to tell. In the past year, Rich Homie's father was almost killed, his mother's been in the hospital, and his grandmother passed away. He also had a son, Rich Royal, to whom his latest tape is dedicated. All the emotions, the joy and the pain, can be heard on If You Ever Think I Will Stop Goin' In Ask Royal Rich. We should've taken him on his word the first time, but the new mixtape shows Rich Homie going in further than ever before.

You can try to track down his one-year-old son, but here are five new tracks that will silence all those who ever thought Quan's commitment to proceed inwards had slowed. Indeed, Quan is in farther than he's ever been before.

"Throw It Back" (prod. by Izze the Producer)

Rich Homie tells us on the "Intro" that he coulda been a doctor, a lawyer, but he chose "skreetz," and the streets owe him big time.

It's not that the game isn't wearing on him--he's smoked enough to start "seein illusions," fucked enough women--"hope I ain't got no cooties." Though the theme of the tape is ultimately family, whatever Quan's rapping about, he promises he's going in, and as soon "Throw It Back" starts, we know Quan's feelin' himself.

Izze the Producer is one of the hottest commodities in Atlanta, who's also recently given beats to Lil Durk and Yo Gotti. He crafts a subtle EDM bassline that slowly turns RHQ up to the max, until he reaches peak charisma--and nastiness. Quan whispers "throw it back," soon expanding on the sentiment: "Throw it back like I'm pitchin' and you catchin'" Then, rhetorically, Quan asks: "Like a wide receiver right after he catch it; He gon' do what?"

Only Rich Homie, who brings serious affection to all his sexual curiosities, could get away with the pitching/catching metaphor. Only RHQ could turn this hookless sex jam into a bona fide piece of pop romance.

"Flex" (prod. by DJ Spinz & Nitty Beatz)

"Nigga this the single." "Flex" has been on iTunes since early February, and on the mixtape we get the DJ version, still just as enjoyable. "Flex" is the 2015 "Type of Way," showing that Rich Homie's gonna be absolutely fine without Rich Gang--a sentiment IYETIWSGI (sorry) verifies 100 percent.

It's strange to call Quan a singer, though there are few more experimental with their vocals. Even when none of his words actually rhyme, he makes them--each bar clicking with more rhythm than the last. Even more impressive is his ability to transition from his rhyme scheme to deliver the always soulful "Ooh, ooh, ooh"s.

"They tried to drop me with a case / But you know I had to skate it / I was singin' like 'Ooh, ooh, ooh." Even though "Flex" dropped before Rich Homie's actual assault case, we know he's gonna be singing after that one, too.

"Forever Millions" (prod. by London on da Track)

Though we don't get Thugga's "we got..." sound-tag, we know this soothingly textured soundscape is from young London, one of the game's brightest stars. The name's Rich Homie Quan, he's still chasing the Rich Gang "Lifestyle," and he's quick to point out, though "You thought I went broke / pssh! / I got more than millions." After that, he sings, "I don't care if you kill me, just don't take none of my children."

Quan in a nutshell: It's a non-stop hustle, "Forever Millions," though it's a no-guarantees grind that he's been committed to since his teenage years. It's always clear where these hits are coming from. His heart lies in his family, and no matter the content, that heart always shines through.

"Set If Off" (prod. by Wheezy)

Here, Rich Homie gets another producer who's come up along Young Thug--even more recently, getting more tracks on Barter 6 (eight total) than London on da Track. Everyone remembers Drake's infamous "Set If Off"/Jada Pinkett shout-out, but Rich Homie is inspired by one of the film's other co-stars, "Viv-i-ca-A.-Fox," which he whispers between yelling "Set It Off," for one of the tape's catchiest hooks.

Quan lets us know he "might just rob a bank and set this bitch off," and we can feel his explosive spontaneity every time he raps. On the line before, he "Ran out with a 50 pack and left his ass with a quarter / Fuck that bitch / Quan don't say that, you might have a daughter." Whether he's at his most introspective or riding off pure instinct, Rich Homie Quan is always moving forward and always exciting.

"Daddy" (prod. by K.E. on the Track)

Though the mixtape is dedicated to his son, Royal Rich, Quan closes the tape with a dedication, and a promise, to his father, who was shot four times last fall. Quan emotionally recalls the day he heard the news, the tears streaming down his face when he saw his father in the ICU.

He knows he owes everything to his daddy, his best friend (and manager), and he soon addresses whoever did this to him: "The niggas who did it to 'em, I hope they prayin' / To God, but he can't help you in this situation." Though Quan promises he'll find the shooters, the song is a mix of triumph--how their father-son bond, and their mutual faith in God, has pulled them through (thankfully, Quan's father is apparently on the way to recovery)--as well as pain--mainly in his inability to control the situation. Inevitably, all these mixed emotions go into the music, and that's one thing Quan can promise--he'll never stop going in. Though he's told us before, it's now impossible to think otherwise.

And though Rich Royal just celebrated his first birthday, I'm sure he knows it too.